Coordinate loop garment hanger

ABSTRACT

A coordinate loop garment hanger comprising a molded plastic hanger body having a hook receiving loop element depending from and molded integrally with the molded plastic body at a lower portion thereof. The hook receiving loop element includes a passageway for selectively receiving and suspending therefrom a hook of a second ganged garment hanger which is at least partially enclosed along its length by left, right, top and bottom surfaces. In one embodiment, the left, right, top and bottom surfaces define substantially parallel left and right sides and rounded and curved top and bottom surfaces. The passageway is also curved along its length, with the open ends thereof being slightly lower than the center thereof. Several different embodiments of the loop element are disclosed with different length and shape sides, bottoms and ends. Several different embodiments are also disclosed of the cross sectional shape of the passageway defined by the loop element, including downward tapering, upward tapering, circular and hourglass shaped passageways. A mold and a method are also disclosed for molding the coordinate loop garment hanger body. The mold comprises first and second mold halves and a moveable mold piece which is pivotally inserted into the mold shape of the loop element during a molding operation to define and mold the interior shape of the passageway.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a garment hanger, and moreparticularly pertains to a coordinate loop garment hanger having a hookreceiving closed loop dependent from the bottom thereof for selectivelyreceiving and suspending therefrom a hook of a second ganged garmenthanger. The present invention also relates generally to a mold formolding a coordinate loop garment hanger and a method of molding acoordinate loop garment hanger.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

It can be appreciated that many garments are designed to be worn andsold as coordinated outfits or sets. For example, a coordinate jacketand pant set, a coordinate jacket and top set, a coordinate short andtop set, and other such coordinate combinations may be specificallymanufactured to be sold as sets. In the sale of such coordinate garmentsets, it is desirable to display these garments together to convey tothe consumer that the garments are indeed a set to be purchasedtogether. To that end the separate garments may be hung on separatehangers and displayed alongside or next to each other, or the garmentsmay be hung on a single hanger. The drawbacks in such display methodsare that in the first example some frame or support is required todisplay the garments together, and in the second example sharing ahanger may obscure one of the individual garments that make up thecoordinate garment set.

It can also be appreciated that a further benefit in displaying suchcoordinate garment sets together, or in displaying garments of a similarstyle and color together, is that the amount of required display spacecan be significantly reduced. A still further benefit of displaying suchcoordinate items together is to make it easier for the consumer to findand purchase such garments. This economy of space and ease oforganization may also extend to the transport and storage of suchgarments.

Moreover, in many cases, each separate garment requires a hanger of adifferent type, such as a hanger suitable for displaying a blouse usedwith a hanger capable of supporting a skirt or a pair of slacks. Forthis purpose, it has long been a practice to utilize hanger structuresin which two hangers are ganged together, with one being suspended fromthe other. In other cases, attachments have been designed with theattachment constructed to be temporarily or permanently connected to asupporting hanger. These arrangements have not been satisfactory becausethey have normally required the hangers to be of such a design that theydo not have utility other than as ganged hangers for simultaneousmultiple garment display and transport. When hangers of conventionalconstruction have been modified to permit ganging, they have eitherinvolved a difficult and complex structure for attaching one garmenthanger to the other or they have not been satisfactory in transportationbecause the vibration and jostling incident to transportation causes thehangers to become disconnected, allowing one of the garments to fall tothe floor or the bottom of the transport container. This same lack ofsecurity of attachment has also been a problem at the point of displayunless the hangers are carefully handled. It is also an importantrequirement that the cost of the hangers be kept as low as possible tomeet the necessities of the garment manufacturing and merchandisingfield.

Prior art ganged garment hangers having a molded plastic bodyconstruction with an integral hook receiving element depending therefromfor suspending a second lower garment hanger are generally molded in atwo piece separable mold. This method of manufacture requires that thecomponent features of the molded garment hangers have symmetrical shapeswhich can be defined by the first and second halves of the two pieceseparable mold with no cavities therein which cannot be molded andcompletely defined by the two halves of the two piece separable mold.

This requirement has resulted in prior art designs for ganged garmenthangers wherein the left and right elements defining the left and righthalves of the hook receiving passageway of the suspension element havenot been aligned with respect to each other along the direction ofopening and closing of the mold, such that the left mold half can definethe left side of each of the left and right side elements of the hookreceiving passageway, and the right mold half can define the right sideof each of the left and right side elements of the hook receivingpassageway.

This requirement has resulted in prior art designs for ganged garmenthangers wherein the left and right side elements defining the hookreceiving passageway have been staggered or nonaligned with respect toeach other along the length of the hook receiving passageway, to allowthe left and right sides of each of the left and right side elementsdefining the hook receiving passageway to be defined and molded by theleft and right mold halves.

Examples of the staggering or nonalignment of the left and right sideelements defining the hook receiving passageway along the length of thehook receiving passageway are illustrated in Blanchard et al. U.S. Pat.No. 4,653,678 wherein elements 21 and 22 are staggered along the lengthof the hook receiving passageway, and willinger et al. U.S. Pat. No.5,803,321 wherein elements 42 and 44 are staggered along the length ofthe passageway, and Zuckerman U.S. Design 394,753.

Moreover, the staggering or nonalignment of the left and right sideelements defining the hook receiving passageway along the length of thehook receiving passageway has resulted in several disadvantages for suchprior art ganged garment hangers. The strength and durability of thehook receiving element is compromised by the design, resulting in morefrequently broken hook receiving elements. The designs of the hookreceiving element are also more complex and less compact. Moreover, therelatively complex shapes of the left and right side molds forming thehook receiving element result in mold shapes which are not easy tomanufacture and which are more subject to wear and scoring over timewith continued commercial usage of the molds.

The prior art also discloses hydraulically actuated mold pieces formoving mold pieces into and out of molding positions during and aftermolding operations. However, such hydraulical actuators are often largeand cumbersome, and would not be able to be physically positioned in arelatively small mold such as a mold for a coordinate loop garmenthanger pursuant to the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to providea coordinate loop garment hanger having a hook receiving closed loopdependent from the bottom thereof for selectively receiving andsuspending therefrom a hook of a second ganged garment hanger.

A further object of the subject invention is the provision of a mold formolding a coordinate loop garment hanger having a hook receiving closedloop dependent therefrom, and also a method for molding a coordinateloop garment hanger having a hook receiving closed loop dependenttherefrom.

In accordance with the teachings herein, the present invention providesa coordinate loop garment hanger comprising a molded plastic hanger bodyhaving a hook receiving loop element depending from and molded,integrally with the molded plastic body at a lower portion thereof. Thehook receiving loop element includes a passageway for selectivelyreceiving and suspending therefrom a hook of a second garment hanger.The passageway is defined by left and right side elements along oppositesides of the length of the passageway, which is defined along thedirection a hook from a dependent garment hanger is inserted into andthrough the passageway. Pursuant to the teachings herein, at least aportion of the left and right side elements are aligned substantiallyperpendicularly across from each other along the left and right sides ofthe length of the passageway. A hook member is joined to the moldedplastic hanger body at an upper portion thereof.

In greater detail, the loop element is at least partially enclosed, andin several embodiments is completely enclosed, by left, right, top andbottom surfaces along its length, with open ends at opposite ends of itslength.

In several embodiments the loop element defines a substantiallyrectangular shaped passageway having substantially parallel left andright sides and rounded top and bottom surfaces. The passageway iscurved along its length, with the open ends of the passageway beingslightly lower than the center of the passageway. The top of thepassageway curves with a radius R1 along the length of the passageway,the bottom of the passageway curves with a radius R2 along the length ofthe passageway, and R1>R2.

In several embodiments the widths of the left, right, top and bottomwalls forming the loop element are all substantially equal. The externalwidth of the loop element between its left and right outer surfaces isless than the width of a flange member on the lower portion of theplastic hanger body to which the loop element is integrally attached.The loop member is attached to the flange member by an attachment webwhich extends the length of the loop member and has a widthsubstantially equal to the width of the walls of the loop element.

In one embodiment, the hook member comprises a formed metal wire hookmember secured to the molded plastic hanger body at a central upperportion thereof. In an alternative embodiment, the hook member cancomprise a molded plastic hook member which is integrally molded withthe hanger body at a central upper portion thereof.

In a further embodiment, the hook receiving loop element also defines asecond passageway centrally located along the length of the loop memberand extending substantially perpendicularly to the length of the loopmember, such that a second garment hanger can be suspended with itslength extending substantially perpendicular to the length of the uppergarment hanger.

In another embodiment, the loop element defines a stop tab projectingfrom one end of one side of the loop element to assist and guide theinsertion and loading of a hanger hook through the loop element.

In another embodiment, a supporting flange member is positioned on thelower portion of the plastic hanger body, to which the loop element isintegrally molded and attached, and support ribs are positioned onopposite ends of the loop element. The support ribs have the same widthas the loop element and the flange member, and serve to further securethe loop element to the flange member.

In another embodiment, the supporting flange member is integrally moldedwith left and right downwardly extending support ribs which are alsointegrally molded with the left and right sides of the loop element. Acrescent shaped aperture is formed above the loop element passagewaywhich extends along the length thereof.

In another embodiment, one side of the loop element comprises acentrally positioned short length side element, and the second side ofthe loop element comprises a centrally positioned longer length sideelement, which assists and guides the insertion and loading of a hangerhook through the loop element from either end. The opposite ends of theloop element can be angled inwardly towards each other proceeding in adownward direction.

In another embodiment, the loop element is integrally molded with and isthe same width as the supporting flange.

In another embodiment, the loop element is attached to the bottom flangemember by an elongated attachment web. In some embodiments the elongatedattachment web can have a vertical length substantially longer than theheight of the loop element.

The cross sectional shape of the passageway defined by the hookreceiving loop element can have a variety of different shapes other thanthe rounded rectangular shape described above. It can taper from a widerwidth at the top thereof to a narrower width at the bottom, or taperfrom a narrower width at the top thereof to a wider width at the bottom,or can be substantially circular. In one embodiment, the cross sectionalshape of the passageway defined by the hook receiving loop elementtapers from a wider width at the top portion to a narrower width at thebottom portion. The width of a transition junction between the topportion and the bottom portion is slightly narrower than the width ofthe bottom portion to define an hourglass shape. The width at thetransition junction can be slightly narrower than the width of a hangerhook, such that a hanger hook inserted and loaded through the topportion must be forcibly pushed and snapped through the junction, whichprovides a very secure retention of the hanger hook in the bottomportion

The present invention is also directed to a mold and a method of moldinga plastic garment hanger body having a hook receiving loop elementdepending therefrom, and also to the mold for molding the molded plastichanger body. The mold is comprised of first and second mold halves whichinclude cavities which define the mold shape of the hanger body. Themold further comprises a moveable mold piece which is inserted into themold shape of the loop element of the plastic hanger body during amolding operation to define and mold the interior shape of thepassageway. The moveable mold piece is subsequently withdrawn from thepassageway defined thereby to allow the plastic hanger body to bereleased from the mold.

In greater detail, the moveable mold piece is automatically insertedinto the mold shape of the loop element when the mold halves are closed,and is automatically withdrawn from the mold shape of the loop elementwhen the mold halves are opened. The moveable mold piece is pivotallysupported about a pivot pin on the first mold half. The interior shapeof the passageway through the loop element is defined by the crosssectional shape of a projecting end of the movable mold piece, which hasan outer radius R1 and an inner radius R2, such that the top of thepassageway curves with a radius R1 along the length of the passageway,the bottom of the passageway curves with a radius R2 along the length ofthe passageway, and R1>R2. The second mold half supports a cam elementwhich pivotally moves moveable mold piece as the first and second moldhalves are opened and closed relative to each other. The cam elementcomprises a cam pin which extends through an aperture in the moveablemold piece, and also extends through an aperture in the first mold half.The cam pin is angularly supported and positioned relative to thedirection of closing and opening of the first and second mold halves tocause the moveable mold piece to pivot into and out of the mold shape ofthe loop element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing objects and advantages of the present invention for acoordinate loop garment hanger may be more readily understood by oneskilled in the art with reference being had to the following detaileddescription of several preferred embodiments thereof, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like elements aredesignated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views,and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a pair of ganged garment hangersconstructed pursuant to the teachings of the present invention, whereineach garment hanger includes a hook receiving loop element dependingtherefrom to allow another ganged garment hanger to be suspendedthereby.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the top garment hanger of FIG. 1,taken along arrows 2—2 in FIG. 1, and particularly illustrates theclosed structure of the dependent hook receiving loop element.

FIG. 3 is a partial view of a first side of a mold used to manufactureand mold a garment hanger with a dependent hook receiving loop elementpursuant to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial view of a second side of a mold used to manufactureand mold a garment hanger with a dependent hook receiving loop elementpursuant to the present invention.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the operation of an angled cam pin which isused to mechanically displace a moveable mold piece which is used toform the interior passageway of the hook receiving loop element as thefirst and second sides of the mold are opened and closed during moldingoperations.

FIGS. 7, 7A and 7B illustrate a further embodiment of a hook receivingclosed loop element having a stop tab projecting from the right backside of the loop element to assist and guide the insertion and loadingof a hanger hook through the loop element.

FIGS. 8, 8A, and 8B illustrate a further embodiment of a hook receivingclosed loop element having support ribs on opposite ends of the loopelement and the attachment web which further secure the loop element tothe supporting flange member, to reinforce the strength of theattachment web.

FIGS. 9, 9A, and 9B illustrate a further embodiment of a hook receivingclosed loop element having support ribs on opposite ends of the loopelement and the attachment web which further secure the loop element tothe supporting flange member, to reinforce the strength of theattachment web.

FIG. 9C is a sectional view of another embodiment of a hook receivingclosed loop element wherein the supporting flange member is integrallymolded with two support ribs which are also integrally molded with theleft and right sides of the closed loop element.

FIGS. 10, 10A, and 10B illustrate a further embodiment of a hookreceiving closed loop element having a back side which extends for thefull length of the loop element, and a centrally located narrow frontside, the structure of which should assist and guide the insertion andloading of a hanger hook through the loop element from either end.

FIGS. 11, 11A and 11B illustrate a further embodiment of a hookreceiving closed loop element which has a centrally located narrow frontside similar to the embodiment of FIG. 10, and wherein the opposite endsof the back side of the loop element are angled inwardly towards eachother proceeding in a downward direction.

FIGS. 12, 12A and 12B illustrate a further embodiment of a hookreceiving fully enclosed loop element enclosed by full length sides,wherein the opposite ends of the loop element are angled inwardlytowards each other proceeding in a downward direction, and the top ofthe loop element is integrally formed with and the same width as thesupporting flange.

FIGS. 13, 13A and 13B illustrate a further embodiment of a hookreceiving closed loop element which is attached to the bottom flangemember by an elongated attachment web, the length of which in a verticaldirection would be determined by the particular coordinated outfitapplication.

FIG. 14 illustrates a further embodiment wherein the cross sectionalshape of the passageway defined by the hook receiving loop elementtapers from a wider width at the top thereof to a narrower width at thebottom thereof.

FIG. 15 illustrates a further embodiment wherein the cross sectionalshape of the passageway defined by the hook receiving loop elementtapers from a narrower width at the top thereof to a wider width at thebottom thereof.

FIG. 16 illustrates a further embodiment wherein the cross sectionalshape of the passageway defined by the hook receiving loop element issubstantially circular.

FIG. 17 illustrates a further embodiment wherein the cross sectionalshape of the passageway defined by the hook receiving loop elementtapers from a wider width at the top to a narrower width at the bottom,with a still narrower width at the transition junction between the topand bottom, such that a hanger hook inserted and loaded through the topportion must be forcibly pushed and snapped through the junction, whichprovides a very secure retention of the hanger hook in the bottomportion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 is a front elevational viewof a pair of ganged garment hangers 10 constructed pursuant to theteachings of the present invention, wherein each garment hanger includesa hook receiving loop element 12 depending therefrom to allow anotherganged garment hanger to be suspended thereby.

Hanger 10 includes a hanger body 14 having a central body member 16 anda pair of downwardly sloping arms 18 and 20 extending therefrom. Thecentral body member 16 includes an upper portion which includes acentrally located boss 22, to which a conventional metal hook member 24is rotatably mounted for suspending the garment hanger 10. The boss 22is reinforced by flanges 23 on opposite sides thereof which are alsointegrally molded and joined to an upper structural flange 28.

The hook is fabricated from wire stock and is connected to the hanger byinsertion into the boss 22, and removal therefrom is prevented by anyconventional attachment such as a threaded connection therebetween or onanchor clip. As illustrated in phantom at 26 in the lower garment hangerof FIG. 1, in an alternative embodiment the hook member may be formed ofa suitable polymer molded integral with the body member 14.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the top garment hanger 10 of FIG. 1,taken along arrows 2—2 in FIG. 1, and particularly illustrates detailsof the construction of the hanger body 14 and the closed structure ofthe dependent hook receiving loop element 12. The hanger body 14 has ageneral I-beam construction wherein the hanger body 14 is provided withan enlarged peripheral flange or lip 28 extending entirely about anoutermost edge of the hanger body 14 and also around the central bodymember 16. The flange 28 has a width which is substantially greater thanthe width of a central vertical web 30 of the hanger body. All of thisstructure is conventional, particularly, in the field of one piece,integral molded plastic garment hangers.

The peripheral flange 28 reinforces the construction of the garmenthanger 10, and also provides an enlarged surface to which the hookreceiving loop element 12 is integrally molded and joined by anattachment web 32.

It should be appreciated that the specific embodiment of the garmenthanger described herein is merely for the purpose of illustration andthat the hook receiving loop element 12 of the present invention may bemounted on any number of polymer based molded garment hangers in usetoday. The hook receiving loop element 12 is disposed below the centralbody member 16 and is joined to the lower flange 28 preferably invertical alignment with the central boss 22 and hook member 24.

As illustrated by FIG. 2, the hook receiving loop element 12 defines asubstantially rectangular shaped passageway, with the length of therectangle extending vertically, having substantially parallel left andright sides 34, 36, and rounded top and bottom surfaces 38, 40. Thevertical height of the passageway is such that a hook 24 of a gangedgarment hanger can easily pass therethrough along the length of thepassageway.

The passageway is slightly curved along its length, such that the openends of the passageway are slightly lower than the mid center of thepassageway. This has an advantage that the curve of the passageway alongits length conforms the passageway more closely to the curve of the hook24 of a dependent ganged garment hanger. The curve of the passagewayalong its length is caused by the mold for molding the body of thegarment hanger. Referring briefly to FIG. 3, which is explained indetail below, the interior shape of a passageway is defined by the crosssectional shape of projecting end piece 56, which has an outer radius R1and an inner radius R2, such that the top of the passageway curves witha radius R1 along the length of the passageway, and the bottom of thepassageway curves with a radius R2 along the length of the passageway,and causes the bottom of the passageway in particular to conform moreclosely to the curve of a hook 24.

AS illustrated in FIG. 2, the widths of the left, right, top and bottomwalls forming the loop element 12 are all substantially equal. The loopmember is attached to the bottom flange member 28 by the attachment web32 which extends the full length of the loop member 12 and which has awidth substantially equal to the width of the walls of the loop element.The external width of the loop element between its left and right outersurfaces 34, 26 is less than the width of the flange member 28 on thelower portion of the plastic hanger body to which the loop element isintegrally attached.

In one alternative embodiment illustrated in phantom by the lowergarment hanger of FIG. 1, the hook receiving loop element 12 can alsodefine a second passageway 42 centrally located along the length thereofand extending substantially perpendicularly to the length of the loopmember. The second passageway 42 can suspend a second garment hangerwith the length of the second hanger extending substantiallyperpendicular to the length of the top garment hanger.

As discussed in relation to the prior art in the background of theinvention, prior art ganged garment hangers having a molded plastic bodyconstruction with an integral hook receiving element depending therefromfor suspending a second lower garment hanger are generally molded in atwo piece separable mold. This method of manufacture requires that thecomponent features of the molded garment hangers have symmetrical shapeswhich can be defined by the first and second halves of the two pieceseparable mold with no cavities therein which cannot be molded andcompletely defined by the two halves of the two piece separable mold.

The coordinate look garment hanger of FIG. 1 cannot be molded in suchprior art molds because the passageway extending through the hookreceiving loop element 12 provides a cavity which cannot be molded andcompletely defined by the two halves of a normal prior art two pieceseparable mold.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are partial views of first and second sides 50, 52 of amold used to manufacture and mold a garment hanger 10 with a dependenthook receiving loop element 12 pursuant to the present invention. Thefirst and second mold halves 50, 52 include cavities which define themold shape of the hanger body, as illustrated by prime numerals 12′,16′, 22′ and 28′ for molding the corresponding portions 12, 16, 22 and28 of the coordinate loop garment hanger.

The mold further comprises a moveable mold piece 54 having a projectingend piece 56 which has a cross sectional shape which is the same as anddefines the cross sectional interior of the passageway extending throughthe loop element 12. The projecting end piece 56 is pivotally moved andinserted into the mold shape of the loop element 12 of the plastichanger body during a molding operation to define the interior of thepassageway. After the molding operation, the moveable mold piece iswithdrawn from the passageway defined thereby in the molded loop element12 to allow the plastic hanger body 14 to be released from the mold.

In different embodiments, the projecting end piece 56 can be formed withparallel sides or with sides which are tapered slightly along the lengthof the projecting end piece 56 to enable it to be more easily withdrawnfrom the molded passageway.

The moveable mold piece 54 is automatically inserted into the mold shapeof the loop element 12 when the mold halves are closed, and isautomatically withdrawn from the mold shape of the loop element when themold halves are opened.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the pivotal mold piece 54 and projecting endpiece 56 pivot in the direction of arrow 57 about a pin 58, secured tothe housing of the first mold half. The first and second mold halvesinclude corresponding half cavities 59, 60 to receive the pivotallymounted mold piece 54 when the first and second old halves are closed.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the operation of the pivotally mounted moldpiece 54 in relation to an angled cam pin 62 which is used tomechanically displace the moveable mold piece 54 as the first and secondsides of the mold 50, 52 are opened and closed during sequential moldingoperations.

The moveable mold piece 54 is pivotally supported about pin 58 on thefirst mold half 50. The second mold half supports and mounts thecylindrical cam pin 62 which pivotally moves the moveable mold piece 54as the first and second mold halves are opened and closed relative toeach other. The cam pin 62 extends through an aperture 64 in themoveable mold piece and also extends through an elongated aperture 66 inthe first mold half. The cam pin is angularly supported and positionedrelative to the direction 68 of closing and opening of the first andsecond mold halves to cause the moveable mold piece to pivot about 58 tocause the projecting end 56 to move into and out of the mold shape ofthe loop element. End limits of the arcuate displacement of the movablemold piece 54 are defined by an arcuate slot 70 in the movable moldpiece 54 and a fixed lug 72 secured to the body of the first mold half50.

The prior art discloses hydraulically actuated mold pieces for movingthe mold pieces into and out of molding positions during and aftermolding operations. However, such hydraulical actuators are often largeand cumbersome, and would not be able to be physically positioned in arelatively small mold such as a mold for a coordinate loop garmenthanger. The relatively simple and compact angled mechanical cam pin 62for pivotally actuating the moveable mold piece 54 of the presentinvention solves and eliminates these problems with prior art hydraulicactuators, and enables the coordinate loop garment hanger to be moldedin a relatively simple and straightforward manner.

FIGS. 7, 7A and 7B illustrate a further embodiment of a hook receivingclosed loop element 70 pursuant to the present invention which issimilar to loop element 12 and additionally has a stop tab 72 projectingfrom the right back side of the loop element, as viewed in FIG. 7, toassist and guide the insertion and loading of a hanger hook through theloop element.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the loop 70 and supporting flangemember 28. FIG. 7A is a sectional view along arrows A—A in FIG. 7 andalso shows the vertical web 30, and FIG. 7B is a bottom view of only thebottom 74 of the closed loop.

FIGS. 8, 8A and 8B illustrate a further embodiment of a hook receivingclosed loop element 80 pursuant to the present invention which issimilar to loop element 12 and additionally has support ribs 82 onopposite ends of the loop element which have the same width as the loopelement 80 and the flange 28 and serve to further secure the loopelement to the supporting flange member 28 and reinforce the strength ofthe attachment web 32. FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the loopelement 80 and supporting flange member 28. FIG. 8A is a sectional viewalong arrows A—A in FIG. 8 and also shows the vertical web 30, and FIG.8B is a bottom view of only the bottom 84 of the closed loop element.

FIGS. 9, 9A, and 9B illustrate a further embodiment of a hook receivingclosed loop element 90 pursuant to the present invention which issimilar to loop element 12 and additionally has outwardly and upwardlyflared (as viewed in FIG. 9) support ribs 92 on opposite ends of theloop element which have the same width as the loop element 90, and areslightly narrower in width than the flange 28, and serve to furthersecure the loop element to the supporting flange member 28 and reinforcethe strength of the attachment web 32. As illustrated in FIG. 9A, theflange 28, attachment web 32 and top of the loop element 90 form astructure similar to an I beam. A substantially rectangularly shapedpocket 91 is formed on both sides of the attachment web 32, bounded onthe left and right sides by the support ribs 92, bounded on the top bythe flange 28, and bounded on the bottom by the top of the loop element90. The two pockets 91 eliminate an unnecessary thickness of the moldedplastic in the volumes of the pockets 91, to allow the molded plastic ofthe components 28, 32, 90 and 92 to be cooled and set more rapidly inthe mold to speed the molding process. FIG. 9 is a front elevationalview of the loop element 90 and supporting flange member 28. FIG. 9A isa sectional view along arrows A—A in FIG. 9 and also shows the verticalweb 30, and FIG. 9B is a bottom view of only the bottom 90 of the closedloop element.

FIG. 9C is a sectional view, somewhat similar to FIG. 8A, of anotherembodiment of a hook receiving closed loop element 90′ pursuant to thepresent invention wherein the supporting flange member 28 is integrallymolded with two downwardly extending support ribs 95 which areintegrally molded with the left and right sides of the closed loopelement 90′. A crescent shaped aperture 97 is formed above and extendsfor the length of the passageway through the loop element 90′, theinterior of which is formed and molded by an appropriately shapedprojecting end piece of the movable mold 54, similar to projecting endpiece 56.

FIGS. 10, 10A and 10B illustrate a further embodiment of a hookreceiving closed loop element 100 pursuant to the present inventionwhich has a back side 102, as viewed in FIG. 10, which extends for thefull length of the loop element 100, but has a centrally located narrowfront side 104. The structure of this embodiment should assist and guidethe insertion and loading of a hanger hook through the loop element 100from either end. FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the loop element100 and supporting flange member 28. FIG. 10A is a sectional view alongarrows A—A in FIG. 10 and also shows the vertical web 30, and Figure 10Bis a bottom view of only the bottom 106 of the closed loop element,which has a somewhat triangular shape formed by angled bottom edges 108extending between the narrow front 104 and wide back 102.

FIGS. 11, 11A and 11B illustrate a further embodiment of a hookreceiving closed loop element 110 pursuant to the present inventionwhich has a centrally located narrow front side 112, similar to theembodiment of FIG. 10, and wherein the opposite ends 114 of the backside 116 of the loop element are angled inwardly towards each otherproceeding in a downward direction. FIG. 11 is a front elevational viewof the loop element 100 and supporting flange member 28. FIG. 11A is asectional view along arrows A—A in FIG. 11 and also shows the verticalweb 30, and FIG. 11B is a bottom view of only the bottom 118 of theclosed loop element which has a rounded rectangular shape.

FIGS. 12, 12A and 12B illustrate a further embodiment of a hookreceiving closed loop element 120 pursuant to the present inventionwhich is similar to loop element 12, but wherein the opposite ends 122of the loop element are angled inwardly towards each other proceeding ina downward direction. Moreover, the top 124 of the loop element 120 isintegrally formed with and the same width as the supporting flange 28.FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the loop element 120 andsupporting flange member 28. FIG. 12A is a sectional view along arrowsA—A in FIG. 12 and also shows the vertical web 30, and FIG. 12B is abottom view of only the bottom 126 of the closed loop element.

FIGS. 13, 13A and 13B illustrate a further embodiment of a hookreceiving closed loop element 130 pursuant to the present inventionwhich is similar to loop element 12, but wherein the closed loop elementis attached to the bottom flange member 28 by an elongated attachmentweb 132, the length of which in a vertical direction would be determinedby the particular coordinated outfit application. As is evident in theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 13, the vertical length of the attachmentweb 132 is substantially longer than the vertical height of the closedloop element 130. FIG. 13A is a sectional view along arrows A—A in FIG.13 and also shows the vertical web 30, and FIG. 13B is a bottom 134 viewof only the bottom of the closed loop element.

Moreover, the cross sectional shape of the passageway defined by thehook receiving loop element can vary substantially in differentembodiments, as illustrated by the exemplary shapes of FIGS. 14-17.

FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment wherein the cross sectional shape ofthe passageway defined by the hook receiving loop element 140 tapersfrom a wider width at the top thereof to a narrower width at the bottomthereof, which should make insertion and loading of a hanger through theloop element easier.

FIG. 15 illustrates an embodiment wherein the cross sectional shape ofthe passageway defined by the hook receiving loop element 150 tapersfrom a narrower width at the top thereof to a wider width at the bottomthereof, which provides a looser fit for a hanger hook suspendedtherefrom.

FIG. 16 illustrates an embodiment wherein the cross sectional shape ofthe passageway defined by the hook receiving loop element 160 issubstantially circular.

FIG. 17 illustrates an embodiment wherein the cross sectional shape ofthe passageway defined by the hook receiving loop element 170 tapersfrom a wider width at the top portion thereof at 172 to a narrower widthat the bottom portion thereof at 174. Moreover, in one embodiment thewidth of the transition junction 176 between the top portion 172′ andthe bottom portion 174 can be slightly narrower than the width of thebottom portion 174 to define somewhat of an hourglass shape. The widthat the junction 176 is slightly narrower than the width of a hangerhook, such that a hanger hook inserted and loaded through the topportion 172 must be forcibly pushed and snapped through the junction176, which provides a very secure retention of the hanger hook in thebottom portion 174.

The embodiments of FIGS. 1, 2 and 7-17 serve to illustrate that themolding principles illustrated in FIGS. 3-6 enable a support loopelement constructed pursuant to the teachings of the present inventionto take many different shapes and variations.

Moreover, the different features and aspects of the embodiments of FIGS.1, 2 and 7-17 can be combined with each other to create further hybridcombined embodiments.

While several embodiments and variations of the present invention for acoordinate loop garment hanger are described in detail herein, it shouldbe apparent that the disclosure and teachings of the present inventionwill suggest many alternative designs to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A garment hanger comprising: a molded plastichanger body having a hook receiving loop element depending from andmolded integrally with the molded plastic body at a lower portionthereof; said hook receiving loop element defining a passageway forselectively receiving and suspending therefrom a hook of a secondgarment hanger, which passageway is defined by left and right sideelements along opposite sides of the length of the passageway, whichlength is defined along the direction a hook from a dependent garmenthanger is inserted into and through the passageway, wherein at least aportion of the left and right side elements are aligned substantiallyperpendicularly across from each other along the left and right sides ofthe length of the passageway; and a hook member joined to the moldedplastic hanger body at an upper portion thereof.
 2. The garment hangerof claim 1, wherein the loop element passageway is at least partiallyenclosed by left, right, top and bottom surfaces along the length of thepassageway, with open ends at opposite ends of its length.
 3. Thegarment hanger of claim 1, wherein the left and right side elementscompletely enclose left and right sides of the passageway along thelength of the passageway, with open ends at opposite ends of its length.4. The garment hanger of claim 1, wherein the loop element passageway iscompletely enclosed on left, right, top and bottom surfaces along itslength with open ends at opposite ends of its length.
 5. The garmenthanger of claim 1, wherein the passageway is curved along its length,with open ends of the passageway at opposite ends of its length beingslightly lower than the center of the passageway, the top of thepassageway curves with a radius R1 along the length of the passageway,the bottom of the passageway curves with a radius R2 along the length ofthe passageway, and R1>R2.
 6. The garment hanger of claim 1, wherein across section of the loop element passageway defines a substantiallyrectangular shaped passageway, with the length of the rectangleextending in a vertical direction, and having substantially parallelleft and right sides and rounded top and bottom surfaces.
 7. The garmenthanger of claim 1, wherein the widths of left, right, top and bottomwalls forming the loop element are all substantially equal.
 8. Thegarment hanger according to claim 1, further including a supportingflange member on the lower portion of the plastic hanger body to whichthe loop element is integrally molded and attached.
 9. The garmenthanger according to claim 8, wherein the loop element is attached to theflange member by an attachment web which extends along the length of theloop element.
 10. The garment hanger of claim 8, wherein the externalwidth of the loop element between its left and right outer surfaces isless than the width of the flange member on the lower portion of theplastic hanger body.
 11. The garment hanger of claim 10, wherein thewidths of left, right, top and bottom walls which form the loop elementare all substantially equal.
 12. The garment hanger of claim 11, whereinthe loop element is attached to the flange member by an attachment webwhich extends the length of the loop element and which has a widthsubstantially equal to the width of the walls of the loop element. 13.The garment hanger of claim 1, wherein the hook member comprises aformed metal wire hook member secured to the molded plastic hanger bodyat a central upper portion thereof.
 14. The garment hanger of claim 1,wherein the hook member comprises a molded plastic hook member which isintegrally molded with the hanger body at a central upper portionthereof.
 15. The garment hanger of claim 1, wherein the hook receivingloop element also defines a second passageway centrally located alongthe length of the loop element and extending substantiallyperpendicularly to the length of the loop element, such that a secondgarment hanger can be suspended with the length of the second garmenthanger extending substantially perpendicular to the length of thegarment hanger.
 16. A garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein theloop element further defines a stop tab projecting from one end of oneside of the loop element to assist and guide the insertion and loadingof a hanger hook through the loop element.
 17. The garment hangeraccording to claim 1, further including a supporting flange member onthe lower portion of the plastic hanger body to which the loop elementis integrally molded and attached, and support ribs positioned onopposite ends of the loop element which have the same width as the loopelement and the flange member, and serve to further secure the loopelement to the flange member.
 18. The garment hanger according to claim8, further including a supporting flange member on the lower portion ofthe plastic hanger body to which the loop element is integrally moldedand attached, and wherein the supporting flange member is integrallymolded with left and right downwardly extending support ribs which arealso integrally molded with the left and right sides of the loopelement.
 19. The garment hanger according to claim 18, wherein acrescent shaped aperture is formed above the loop element passagewaywhich extends along the length of the loop element passageway.
 20. Thegarment hanger according to claim 1, wherein one side of the loopelement comprises a centrally positioned short length side element, andthe second side of the loop element comprises a centrally positionedlong length side element, which assists and guides the insertion andloading of a hanger hook through the loop element from either end. 21.The garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein opposite ends of theloop element are angled inwardly towards each other proceeding in adownward direction.
 22. The garment hanger according to claim 1, furtherincluding a supporting flange member on the lower portion of the plastichanger body to which the loop element is integrally molded and attached,and wherein the top of the loop element is integrally formed with andthe same width as the supporting flange.
 23. The garment hangeraccording to claim 20, wherein opposite ends of the second side of theloop element are angled inwardly towards each other proceeding in adownward direction.
 24. The garment hanger according to claim 1, whereinthe loop element is attached to the bottom flange member by an elongatedattachment web.
 25. The garment hanger according to claim 24, whereinthe elongated attachment web has a vertical length substantially longerthan the height of the loop element.
 26. The garment hanger according toclaim 1, wherein the cross sectional shape of the passageway defined bythe hook receiving loop element tapers from a wider width at the topthereof to a narrower width at the bottom thereof.
 27. The garmenthanger according to claim 1, wherein the cross sectional shape of thepassageway defined by the hook receiving loop element tapers from anarrower width at the top thereof to a wider width at the bottomthereof.
 28. The garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the crosssectional shape of the passageway defined by the hook receiving loopelement is substantially circular.
 29. The garment hanger according toclaim 1, wherein the cross sectional: shape of the passageway defined bythe hook receiving loop element tapers from a wider width at the topportion thereof to a narrower width at the bottom portion thereof, andthe width of a transition junction between the top portion and thebottom portion is slightly narrower than the width of the bottom portionto define an hourglass shape.
 30. The garment hanger of claim 29,wherein the width at the junction is slightly narrower than the width ofa hanger hook, such that a hanger hook inserted and loaded through thetop portion must be forcibly pushed and snapped through the junction,which provides a very secure retention of the hanger hook in the bottomportion.
 31. The garment hanger of claim 1, wherein the molded plastichanger body is molded in a mold comprised of first and second moldhalves which include cavities which define the mold shape of the hangerbody, and the mold further comprises a moveable mold piece which isinserted into the mold shape of the loop element of the plastic hangerbody during a molding operation to define the interior of the passagewayduring the molding operation, and the moveable mold piece issubsequently withdrawn from the passageway defined thereby to allow theplastic hanger body to be released from the mold.
 32. The garment hangerof claim 31, wherein the moveable mold piece is automatically insertedinto the mold shape of the loop element when the mold halves are closed,and is automatically withdrawn from the mold shape of the loop elementwhen the mold halves are opened.
 33. The garment hanger of claim 32,wherein the moveable mold piece is pivotally supported on the first moldhalf, and the interior shape of the passageway is defined by the crosssectional shape of a projecting end of the movable mold piece, which hasan outer radius R1 and an inner radius R2, such that the top of thepassageway curves with a radius R1 along the length of the passageway,the bottom of the passageway curves with a radius R2 along the length ofthe passageway, and R1>R2.
 34. The garment hanger of claim 33, whereinthe second mold half supports a cam element which pivotally moves themoveable mold piece as the first and second mold halves are opened andclosed relative to each other.
 35. The garment hanger of claim 34,wherein the cam element comprises a cam pin which extends through anaperture in the moveable mold piece, and the cam pin is angularlysupported and positioned relative to the direction of closing andopening of the first and second mold halves to cause the moveable moldpiece to pivot into and out of the mold shape of the loop element. 36.The garment hanger of claim 35, wherein the cam pin extends through theaperture in the moveable mold piece and also extends through an aperturein the first mold half.